Page 86 of Ruby Malice

“Your guess is as good as mine. I just got home.”

“So you can leave now,” Viktoria interrupts. “Kirill and I have catching up to do.”

Rayne waves a hand to dismiss us both. “Whatever. Goodbye.”

Then she spins on her heels and runs out of the room. The door slams shut behind her.

“Fuck.” I sigh and turn to Viktoria. “Well, how was it? Satisfied?”

She blinks at me. “How was what? We haven’t even done anything yet.”

“Not the sex. Your little plan.” I circle my finger in the air, gesturing to her still-nude body and the towels on the floor. “That’s what this was, right? You wanted Rayne to come in here and see you naked in my bed.”

“Actually, the plan was for her to come in here and see the two of us fucking each other to pieces. But you didn’t pull the trigger fast enough. She didn’t get the full effect.”

“I don’t plan to pull the trigger at all. You did your worst. Now, go back to the hole you crawled out of.”

Viktoria snorts. “You wouldn’t have dared to turn me down before that little waitress came along.”

“She’s a maid.”

“She’s been both,” she snaps. “And there’s no difference, anyway. That girl is a nobody. But you’re willing to turn down a sure thing for her. It’s pathetic.”

“No. What’s pathetic is that you think my lack of desire has anything at all to do with anyone but you.”

Viktoria frowns.

“I can see you’re having a hard time following what I’m saying. I’ll explain it real slow.” I hold up my hands, framing each word in the air in front of me. “I. Do. Not. Want. You. Not now, not ever.”

Viktoria sits up and tries to cover herself with her hands. “You wanted me before she came along!” Her voice wobbles, equal parts pitiful and crazed.

“No, Isleptwith you before Rayne came along,” I clarify. “You were convenient. Anyone would have done the trick.”

“You really expect me to believe that? I remember what it was like between us,” she says. “We had something.”

“We had sex. It was never more than that and it was never going to be.”

Viktoria shakes her head, her mouth hanging open. “How can you say that? You and I… We were—are—engaged!”

I groan. “German was right. I should have dropped this bomb a lot sooner.”

“German knows about this?” she cries. “You fucking asshole! You talked about our relationship withGerman?”

“Only because he, like everyone else, understood that I didn’t have any interest in actually being with you. Seems like you were the only one who couldn’t see it. And given the little stunt you just pulled, are you really that confused about why I might find you repulsive?”

“Repulsi—” Viktoria slams her mouth shut and grabs her robe. “If I’m so repulsive, then I guess I won’t force you to look at me for another second.”

She covers herself as quickly as possible and stomps towards the door. She’s moving slowly, though, like she’s hoping I’ll stop her. Fat fucking chance.

Just before she leaves, she turns around. Her face is puckered like she’s crying, but there are no tears. “This is the last time I let you demean me like this, Kirill Zaitsev. There won’t be another chance for you.”

I give her a thumbs up. “Excellent. Close the door on your way out.”

She gasps and storms out without closing the door.

“Fine,” I grumble. “I guess I’ll get it.”

I kick the door closed. The wall shudders as it slams into place. The final nail in the coffin.

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